Flexible lighting and universal mounting system for municipal utility poles

Abstract

A flexible lighting tube and universal architectural mounting system for lighting upon municipal utility poles. The mounting system is a bracket having the form of an inverted track to receive a lighting tube. The bracket may have a base and plurality of flanges used to either hold the lighting tube or attach to a pole. The base and flanges form a U-like shape and are made from a flexible material allowing the bracket to be shaped to conform to a pole to which it attaches. A foam layer may be inserted between the bracket and tube to inhibit unintended disconnection.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An illumination system comprising:
 a generally planar mounting bracket having at least one set of flanges extending generally perpendicularly from a first surface thereof, and a second surface opposing said first surface; and 
 a light tube comprising a base element having a channel extending therethrough, a light strip disposed in said channel, a diffuser attached to said base element at a first surface thereof, and a second surface opposing said first surface; 
 wherein said light tube is sized and shaped for affixation to said mounting bracket by said second surface of said base element being affixed to said second surface of said mounting bracket. 
 
     
     
       2. The illumination system of  claim 1 , wherein said second surface of said base element is affixed to said second surface of said mounting bracket. 
     
     
       3. The illumination system of  claim 1 , further comprising a retention element having a top side and an opposing bottom side, said retention element being sized and shaped for affixation to said mounting bracket by said bottom side being affixed to said second surface of said mounting bracket, and said retention element being sized and shaped for affixation to said light tube by said second surface of said base element being affixed to said top side of said retention element. 
     
     
       4. The illumination system of  claim 3 , wherein said retention element comprises foam. 
     
     
       5. The illumination system of  claim 3 , wherein said retention element is affixed to said second surface of said mounting bracket and said second surface of said base element is affixed to said top side of said retention element. 
     
     
       6. The illumination system of  claim 1 , further comprising an attaching element adapted to attach said mounting bracket to a municipal light pole arm by said attaching element passing through an aperture in at least one of said flanges and enveloping said municipal light pole arm. 
     
     
       7. The illumination system of  claim 6 , wherein said attaching element comprises a metal clamp. 
     
     
       8. The illumination system of  claim 1 , wherein said light strip comprises a double-LED light strip. 
     
     
       9. The illumination system of  claim 1 , further comprising an endcap sized and shaped to attach to a first end of said light tube by a cover of said endcap enclosing a portion of said light tube at said first end. 
     
     
       10. The illumination system of  claim 9 , wherein said endcap is attached to said first end of said light tube by said cover enclosing said portion of said light tube at said first end. 
     
     
       11. The illumination system of  claim 10 , wherein said endcap is attached to said mounting bracket using one or more screws. 
     
     
       12. The illumination system of  claim 9 , wherein said endcap comprises a wiring aperture extending therethrough. 
     
     
       13. The illumination system of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting bracket can be shaped to have an arcuate profile corresponding to the curve of a municipal light pole arm. 
     
     
       14. A mounting system for lighting comprising:
 An arcuate track having a base and at least one set of flanges, said base having an outer surface adapted to connect intermittently upon a cobra arm; 
 at least one pinch clip, said at least one pinch clip having two tips abutting said flanges; and, 
 wherein said track is adapted to receive a strip of light emitting diode lighting within said flanges and said base. 
 
     
     
       15. The mounting system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 said at least one pinch clip having a first tip and a second tip cooperatively compressing at least two flanges in said at least one set of flanges to frictionally retain a strip of light emitting diode lighting within said system. 
 
     
     
       16. The mounting system of  claim 15  wherein said track and said at least one pinch clip are opaque. 
     
     
       17. The mounting system of  claim 14  further comprising:
 said at least one pinch clip including a plurality of said pinch clips spaced upon said track. 
 
     
     
       18. The mounting system of  claim 14 , wherein said track is a flexible member which can be shaped to have an arcuate profile corresponding to the curve of a light arm.